Maurizio Sarri set to hand Eden Hazard captaincy to ward off Real Madrid

CHELSEA boss Maurizio Sarri is ready to make Eden Hazard his captain in a bid to keep the Belgian star at Stamford Bridge.

Hazard led Belgium to the World Cup semi-finals this summer, and is a £180million target for Real Madrid.

But Chelsea are determined not to sell and feel that handing him the captaincy may be the key to persuading the 27-year-old to stay and sign the new contract he has been offered.

Sarri, who has only been working with his squad for just over a week since taking over, has not yet made the final decision but Hazard, who is also Belgium’s skipper, is at the top of his list, ahead of Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta and midfielder Cesc Fabregas.